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In the fifties I was serving in Benin City in the Province of Benin, Western Nigeria,
when the following took place.
A member of the French trading CFAO was endeavouring to sell an apparatus for,
among other things, pulling vehicles back onto the road after they had gone to bush. In
Benin City there was a tree known as the ‘Imoten Tree’ and it was regarded as the
‘Mother of Benin’ and, as such, was worshipped by the local population. The factor
passed a chain around the base of the tree and demonstrated how the apparatus worked.
About two nights later there was a hurricane and the tree was blown down, with the
result that the population immediately rioted, blaming the French factor for this calamity.
He was immediately whisked out of Nigeria.
During the riots two Dachshund dogs, the property of the Superintendent of Police
were stolen and offered up as sacrifices to the Imoten Tree. All the Europeans were
advised not to venture out at night.
Shortly after these events, the Forestry Officer was instructed to find a tree of the
same size, species and age. To do this he enlisted my aid and we eventually found one
near to a road. We set up a demonstration of the apparatus and invited all the local
Chiefs to attend. They turned up with their retinues and the Forestry Officer and I
endeavoured to show and to prove to them that the apparatus was not the cause of the
disaster. As they were not fully convinced, I suggested that the chain should be put
around my legs, whilst I stood astride. This was done and the experiment repeated. The
car was pulled along the road without any movement of my feet. There were gasps of
astonishment from the onlookers and the Chiefs ordered their subjects to stop rioting
immediately.
This piece of tribal history has never been revealed before, even to the Forestry
Department or to the Public Works Department of Western Nigeria, or my superior
officers.
As an aftermath of these events and of the respect that the Chiefs held for me, when I
left Benin finally a football match was held in my honour at which the Oba of Benin, the
Supreme Chief, kicked off.
I believe that a statue was later erected on the site of the Imoten Tree.
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